Paul Barker

Paul Barker (born February 8, 1959) is an American songwriter and musician best known for being the bass guitarist, producer and engineer for industrial pioneers Ministry from 1986 to 2003.

Beginning with Ministry as a touring bassist for their 1986 ‘Twitch’ tour, Barker collaborated with frontman Al Jourgensen for the landmark 1988 release ‘The Land of Rape and Honey’. Their intense interpersonal dynamics would forge the Ministry sound and lay the foundation for a number of side projects. The relationship grew contentious with Al at one point claiming it was like an “arranged marriage” and “acrimonious”. When asked in a 2015 interview if he would ever work with Jourgensen again, he replied, “I’m fairly confident we will not work together. We have zero relationship now.” Despite what would be an almost revolving door of band members and touring musiciens throughout Ministry’s nearly two decade career, Paul Barker and Jourgensen were its only continuous members.

Barker left the band in 2003 after the release of their eighth album Animositisomina and has recorded and released independent material (under the name Flowering Blight) as well as mixing and producing multiple artists, including
Stayte and Deadly Apples. He joined U.S.S.A. with Duane Denison (Tomahawk, ex-The Jesus Lizard) as bassist and joined the touring lineup of rock supergroup Puscifer as their bassist in 2015.

Barker is also one of the founders of Malekko Heavy Industry Corporation, a manufacturer of synthesizer modules and guitar effect pedals.